摘要： 追诉时效制度起源于雅典，与大赦制度具有亲缘关系，具有宗教色彩，以捐弃前嫌，团结社会为目的。它被奥古斯都在其反通奸立法中发展为一个具有技术性的制度，尔后被推广到其他法律领域。在近代，追诉时效制度被世俗化，主要以自然惩罚论作为其理论基础。时效期间被安排得与罪行的轻重相适应。近代人还新创了行刑时效制度，并围绕着追诉时效的客体进行了不断深入的讨论。我国古代法无追诉时效制度，在鸦片战争后引入。目前两岸四地的刑法都包含该制度。但我国刑法无行刑时效制度，并且对科处管制、拘役、罚金和没收财产的犯罪和治安违法行为未规定追诉时效，是为缺憾。

关键词: 追诉时效, 大赦, 涤除, 行刑时效, 恕道

Abstract: Originating in Athens, the system of time limits for prosecution, with the religious overtones, has  a kinship with the amnesty system, aiming at burying the hatchet and uniting the community. Augustus developed it into a technical system in his anti-adultery legislation, and it was then extended to other  areas of law. In modern times, the system of time limits for prosecution was secularized and equipped  with the doctrine of natural punishment as its theoretical basis. The different limitation periods were arranged according to the seriousness of the offense. Modern people also have created a new system of time limits for execution and have discussed constantly and deeply around the object of the time limits  for prosecution. China’s ancient law does not have such a system, and therefore it was introduced in  China after the Opium War. Now, this system has been included into the penal codes of four jurisdictions of China, namely the Continental China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. It is a defect that  China’s criminal law is absent with such system, and neither has the system of time limits for prosecution for the misdemeanor and the crimes that should be punished with public surveillance, with criminal  detention, with fine and with confiscation of property.

Key words: The System of Time Limits for Prosecution, Amnesty, Lustration, The System of Time Limits for Execution, Arts of Forgiveness